Tongue cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A tongue cleaning device includes a debris retention feature that helps the user remove debris from the tongue. In one embodiment, the feature is a suction system that removes the debris from the working area of the device. In another embodiment, the feature is a recess positioned adjacent the working edge such that the debris will collect in the recess. Another embodiment of the invention provides a tongue cleaning device having a working edge that is concave with respect to the tongue. Other embodiments of the invention provide flexible handle and head designs.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 60/259,655 filed Jan. 4,2001; the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention generally relates to tongue cleaningdevices.

[0004] 2. Background Information

[0005] Numerous types of tongue cleaning devices are known in the art.All have advantages and disadvantages. The art generally desires atongue cleaning device that effectively cleans the plaque and debrisfrom the tongue while being safe, easy to use, and effective.

[0006] One drawback with existing tongue cleaning devices is that thedebris collected by the device will fall off of the device shortly afterthe device is removed from the tongue. Most home users clean theirtongues over a bathroom sink and the debris retention problem does notbother them or stop them from using the devices. In other settings, thedebris retention problem is of more concern. One such setting is ahospital where it is becoming more desirable to clean the tongues ofbedridden patients in order to reduce the amount of bacteria of thepatient's tongue. Those who use tongue cleaning devices in thesesituations desire a tongue cleaning device that will retain or removethe debris from the scraping wall of the tongue cleaning device so thatthe tongue cleaning device may be easily used on a patient who is on hisback.

[0007] Another problem in the tongue cleaner art is the manufacture ofthe working edge for the tongue cleaner. A working edge cannot be toosharp because the edge will cut the tongue. On the other hand, theworking edge cannot be too dull because the edge will not clean thetongue. The art thus desires tongue cleaning designs and methods formanufacturing tongue cleaning devices wherein the sharpness of theworking edge can be controlled.

[0008] A further drawback with known tongue cleaning devices is theamount of tongue width that can be effectively cleaned by a single passof the tongue cleaning device. The art desires a working edge shape andconfiguration that more effectively cleans the surface of the tongue.

[0009] The art also desires flexible tongue cleaning devices that flexwhen pressed down on the tongue to help prevent the user from pressingtoo hard against the tongue. To be useful, the handle must flex alongthe longitudinal axis of the handle. The art desires different handleand head configurations that provide for this flexing motion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] One embodiment of the invention provides a tongue cleaning devicethat allows the debris being gathered by the tongue cleaning device tobe easily removed from the tongue and device. The embodiment providesfor easy debris removal by combining a suction mechanism with the tonguescraping member. The suction mechanism may be a powered suctionmechanism or a manual suction mechanism. The elements of the suctionmechanism may be replaceable.

[0011] Another embodiment of the invention provides a tongue cleaningdevice that incorporates a debris retention feature that retains thedebris collected from the tongue.

[0012] Another embodiment of the invention provides a tongue cleaningdevice that incorporates a working edge that is concave with respect tothe tongue so that a wide section of the tongue may be cleaned with asingle pass of the device.

[0013] Another embodiment of the invention provides a tongue cleaningdevice having a flexible handle. The flexible handle allows the workingblade of the tongue cleaning device to be properly positioned on thetongue during use. The invention provides a flexible handle that hasmemory so that it returns to its original resting position after eachuse.

[0014] Another embodiment of the invention provides a tongue cleaningdevice fabricated from titanium. In one embodiment, the titanium isanodized to provide different colors to the tongue cleaning device.

[0015] Another embodiment of the invention provides a tongue cleaningdevice having a scraping member with a smooth working edge that alwayspresents a rounded surface to the user's tongue. The rounded surfaceprevents the working edge from catching on the user's tongue during use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a tongue cleaning device having asuction mechanism to remove debris scraped from the tongue surface.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a tongue cleaning device having aflexible handle.

[0019]FIG. 3A is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing an alternativeembodiment of the flexible handle.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3.

[0021]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a tongue cleaning device having aflexible handle.

[0022]FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 5.

[0023]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a tongue cleaning device having aflexible handle.

[0024]FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7.

[0025]FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

[0026]FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a tongue cleaning device having aflexible handle.

[0027]FIG. 11 is a side view of FIG. 10.

[0028]FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a tongue cleaning device having aflexible handle.

[0029]FIG. 13 is a side view of FIG. 12.

[0030]FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a tongue cleaning device having aflexible handle.

[0031]FIG. 15 is a side view of FIG. 14.

[0032]FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a tongue cleaning device having aflexible handle.

[0033] FIGS. 17-22 are schematic top plan views of tongue cleaningdevices having flexible handles.

[0034] FIGS. 23A-23X depict different scraping member cross sectionsthat may be used with different tongue cleaning devices.

[0035]FIG. 24 is a section view of the head of a tongue cleaning devicewith a debris retention recess.

[0036]FIG. 25 is a section view of an alternative tongue cleaning devicehead having a debris retention recess similar to the head in FIG. 24.

[0037]FIG. 26 shows an end view of a tongue cleaning device showing aworking edge having a concave shape with respect to the tongue.

[0038]FIG. 27 is a section view of a tongue cleaning device that has aself-contained debris removal system.

[0039]FIG. 28 is a section view of a scraping wall of a tongue cleaningdevice before it is polished to round the corners.

[0040]FIG. 29 is a section view of the wall of FIG. 28 showing thepolishing forces acting on the wall.

[0041]FIG. 30 is a section view of the wall of FIG. 28 showing thescraping wall after it has been polished.

[0042]FIG. 30A is an enlarged view of the working edge of the scrapingwall.

[0043]FIG. 31 is a section view of a scraping wall formed with aplurality of wires.

[0044] Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout thespecification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] One embodiment of the tongue cleaning device of present inventionis indicated generally by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Tonguecleaning device generally includes body that has a handle 12 and a head14. Handle 12 is an elongated structure that fits the human hand so thatthe user may manipulate head 14 with handle 12. Head 14 generallyincludes an edge that engages the user's tongue and removes the debrisfrom the user's tongue.

[0046] In the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2,handle 12 has a V-shaped cross section that includes opposed sides 20and 22. The V-shaped cross section adds strength to the handle andprovides a handle that is easy to grip by the user.

[0047] Handle 12 terminates into head 14. Specifically, the exemplaryhead 14 includes a pair of legs 30 and 32 that each split offsubstantially longitudinally and in a substantially planar manner fromits respective side 20 and 22. An opening 34 is disposed between legs 30and 32. Head 14 may be slightly angled from the longitudinal axis ofhandle 12 as is shown in FIG. 2. Different heads 14 may be used in otherembodiments of the invention.

[0048] A scraping member or wall 36 extends between the outer ends ofeach leg 30 and 32 transversely to legs 30 and 32. Scraping wall 36 maybe curved. When in use, scraping wall 36 is substantially vertical whilehandle 12 and legs 30 and 32 are substantially horizontal. The lowermostedge of scraping wall 36 is the working edge 38 that engages the tongue.Working edge 38 is smooth in the drawings while it may be jagged, tooth,serrated, grooved, notched, stepped, or otherwise patterned in otherembodiments. In each of these embodiments, the sharpness of working edge38 is dull enough to avoid cutting the user's tongue while in use.

[0049] Tongue cleaning device 10 includes a debris-removal system 40adapted to remove debris from device 10 that device 10 has collectedfrom the user's tongue. System 40 includes a channel 41 that allowsdebris to be transported away from head 14. Channel 41 terminatesadjacent working edge 38 or scraping wall 36. A single or a plurality ofopenings 42 provide communication between channel 41 and working edge38. Channel 41 may extend from working edge 38, down head 14, and alonghandle 12. Channel 41 is in fluid communication with a vacuum source 44that provides a suction force to openings 42. The suction force issufficient to transport debris being removed from the tongue by workingedge 38 through channel 41. Suction device 44 may be a powered suctiondevice that is commonly used in a dentist office. In this embodiment,the debris removed by tongue cleaning device 10 is automaticallydeposited in an appropriate receptacle by the powered suction device. Inanother embodiment, suction device 44 may be a manually-activated bulbthat is selectively connected to channel 41. In this embodiment, theuser depresses the bulb and releases the bulb to create the suctionforce as he applies working edge 38 to his tongue.

[0050] Channel 41 may be removably attached or integrally formed withhead 14 and handle 12. When removably attached, channel 41 may becleaned and re-attached. Channel 41 may also be easily replaced. Whenintegrally formed, channel 41 is configured to allow the interior ofchannel to be cleaned by appropriate cleaning techniques known in thedentistry art.

[0051] Opening 42 may be centrally positioned with respect to head 14.In other embodiments, openings 42 are disposed along the length ofworking edge 38 and/or legs 20 and 22. When a plurality of openings areused, each opening 42 may be connected to channel 41 with an individualchannel so that the suction force is evenly distributed to each opening42.

[0052] Tongue cleaning device 10 may be fabricated from a variety ofmaterials known in the art such as plastic, steel, aluminum, titanium,etc. The material may be cleaned and sterilized. For home use, thematerial may withstand the heat of a standard dishwasher. The materialmay have a non-porous finish that does not allow organic material tocollect on the surface.

[0053] An alternative embodiment of a tongue cleaning device having asuction system is indicated generally by the numeral 210 in FIG. 27.Tongue cleaning device 210 generally includes body that has a handle 212and a head 214. Handle 212 is an elongated structure that fits the humanhand so that the user may manipulate head 214 with handle 212. Head 214generally includes an edge that engages the user's tongue and removesthe debris 216 from the user's tongue.

[0054] In the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 27, handle212 is a straight, elongated handle sized to be held by and manipulatedwith the human hand. Handle 212 terminates into head 214 that defines ascraping member or wall 236 that extends down from handle 214. Thelowermost edge of scraping wall 236 is the working edge 238 that engagesthe tongue.

[0055] Tongue cleaning device 210 includes a debris-removal system 240adapted to remove debris from device 210 that device 210 has collectedfrom the user's tongue. System 240 includes a channel 241 that allowsdebris to be transported away from head 214. Channel 241 terminatesadjacent working edge 238 or scraping wall 236. A single or a pluralityof openings 242 provide communication between channel 241 and workingedge 238. Channel 241 may extend from working edge 238, down head 214,and along handle 212. Channel 241 is in fluid communication with avacuum source 244 that provides a suction force to opening 242. Thesuction force is sufficient to transport debris being removed from thetongue by working edge 238 through channel 241. A venturi opening 245 isprovided in head 214 to create a suction flow through opening 242without causing device 210 from suctioning itself to the user's tongue.Venturi opening 245 is in fluid communication with channel 241.

[0056] Suction device 244 is a powered suction device having a fan 246disposed in a housing 247 carried by handle 212. Fan 246 blows air outof an exhaust opening 248 defined by housing 247. Appropriate switchesand power sources may be supplied as needed to operate device 244.

[0057] In this embodiment, the debris removed by tongue cleaning device210 is deposited in an appropriate debris retention device 250. Device250 may be removable so that it may be cleaned or replaced. In someembodiments, device 250 may be disposable. Device 250 is positionedintermediate working edge 238 and suction device such that debris pulledinto channel 241 is dropped into device 250 through opening 251 beforeit reaches suction device 244.

[0058] Channel 241 and suction device 244 may be removably attached orintegrally formed with head 214 and handle 212.

[0059] Opening 242 may be centrally positioned with respect to head 214.In other embodiments, openings 242 are disposed along the length ofworking edge 238. When a plurality of openings are used, each opening242 may be connected to channel 241 with an individual channel so thatthe suction force is evenly distributed to each opening 242.

[0060] Different embodiments of tongue cleaning devices are depicted inFIGS. 3-22. Each of the tongue cleaning devices in FIGS. 3-22 include aflexible handle design that allows head 14 to flex with respect to theend of handle 12. In each of these embodiments, the flexible handle hasa memory that causes the handle to return to its original position afterbeing bent.

[0061] In FIGS. 3 and 4, the handle of the tongue cleaning deviceincludes a relatively thin, flat section 100 that allows the head of thetongue cleaning device to flex with respect to the portion of the handlegripped by the user. Section 100 may be substantially flat or may havethe same V-shaped cross section as the handle. In either configuration,the width of section 100 is substantially thinner than the remainingportion of the handle. The width of section 100 may be 50 percent lessthan the width of the portions of the handle disposed immediatelyadjacent section 100. In other embodiments, the width may be ⅔ less.

[0062] Another embodiment is depicted in FIG. 3A wherein material isremoved from both the handle and the head as indicated by the shadedsections 102. In this embodiment, the thin section of the handlesmoothly curves and flows into both the head and the handle of thetongue cleaning device. In the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 3A, the thinsection of the handle is referred to as the neck of the handle. The thinneck allows the head of the device to flex with respect to handle.

[0063] In FIGS. 5 and 6, the neck of the handle is formed with a roundrod 104 that is used to connect the handle with the head. The rod isflexible so that the head may flex with respect to the handle. The rodmay be provided in a variety of different configurations and may befabricated from different materials to increase or decrease itsflexibility.

[0064] In FIGS. 7-9, the handle is connected to the head with a coilspring 106 that allows the head to flex with respect to the handle.

[0065] In FIGS. 10 and 11, a spring 108 having a wave-shapedconfiguration is used to provide the flexing between the head and thehandle. The side view depicted in FIG. 11 shows the wave-shaped patternof spring 108. Spring 108 has a round cross section.

[0066] In FIGS. 12 and 13, a spring 110 is used to provide theflexibility. Spring 110 has a wave-shaped pattern similar to spring 108.Spring 110 has a flat cross section.

[0067]FIGS. 14 and 15 show another embodiment wherein the handles of thetongue cleaning device includes two lengths of material disposedsubstantially parallel to one another. This structure is shown in U.S.Pat. No. 5,916,228 in FIGS. 16-18. The handle structure depicted inFIGS. 14 and 15 allows the head of the tongue cleaning device to flexwith respect to the handle. The welds depicted in FIG. 14 may be addedto increase the stiffness of the handle. The welds may be eliminated todecrease the stiffness of the handle.

[0068] In FIG. 16, material is removed from the interior of both thehead and the handle as indicated by the shaded area 120. The removal ofthe material in the center of the tongue cleaning device increases theflexibility of the device. The length of the material removed from thecenter of the device may extend halfway down the handle as depicted inFIG. 16, substantially the entire length of the handle as depicted inFIGS. 20 and 21, or a small amount of the handle as depicted in FIG. 22.

[0069] FIGS. 17-22 show additional handle shapes that increase theflexibility of the head with respect to the handle. In FIG. 18, twospaced-apart, indented portions are used to allow the handle to flex attwo positions. This configuration allows the user to hold the end of thehandle in the palm of his hand and bend the middle portion of the handleis conform with his palm.

[0070] In each of the embodiments described above and below, the head orentire body of the tongue cleaning device may be fabricated fromtitanium or a titanium alloy. Creating tongue cleaning devices fromtitanium or a titanium alloy provides the tongue cleaning devices withadvantages not known before in the art of tongue cleaning devices.Titanium is hypo-allergenic and may be repeatedly applied against theuser's tongue without creating a reaction between the saliva and thetitanium. Titanium will not react with the debris on the tongue.

[0071] Titanium allows the tongue cleaning devices to be flexible whilehaving a memory so that the devices return to their original shape aftereach use. The flexibility of titanium tongue cleaning devices allows thedevices to be safer and less rigid than those in the prior art. Theflexible tongue cleaning devices allow the working bodies of the tonguecleaning devices to adjust to the contours of the tongue. The use oftitanium allows the user to apply force to the tongue while allowing thehandle of the tongue cleaning device to flex to prevent the user fromapplying too much force to the tongue.

[0072] Tongue cleaning device handles fabricated from titanium have aninherent memory quality that will revert to their original shapes afterbeing bent. Handles fabricated from plastic can break after frequentuses and handles fabricated from steel will bend out of shape afterfrequent uses.

[0073] Another advantage of using titanium with a tongue cleaning deviceis that the tongue cleaning device may be provided with a color whilenot coating or painting the device. Coatings and painted surfaces may beundesired by some users because of allergic reactions, or the fear thatthe coating may come off in the user's mouth. Titanium can be colored byanodizing the outer surface of the titanium. Anodized titanium ishypo-allergenic and no paints, pigments, or dyes are used to create thecolored appearance. The colored appearance of the titanium is generatedby creating a transparent oxide film on the outer surface of the metaltongue cleaning device. The film appears colored to the user becauselight striking the surface is partially reflected by the film andpartially passes through the film to reflect off of the metal below thefilm. The delayed light reflection combined with the surface lightreflection to provide a colored appearance to the user. The thickness ofthe oxide film determines the color viewed by the user.

[0074] A titanium tongue cleaning device may thus be colored to allowdifferent users in the same household a way to readily identify theirtongue scraper from another user's. Colored cleaning devices are alsodesired for marketing and advertising purposes. Anodizing the titaniumin this manner provides the identifying color feature while not usingdyes, paints, or coatings.

[0075]FIGS. 23A though 23X depict different cross sections for thescraping wall and working edge of the tongue cleaning device. Thesecross sectional shapes may be used with any of a variety of tonguecleaning device configurations such as the configurations depicted inFIGS. 1-22 and those depicted in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,916,228 and 5,893,860.

[0076] Each of the scraping member configurations depicted in FIG. 23has a curved or rounded working edge configured to effectively removedebris from the tongue while not catching on or snagging on the tongue.Each configuration has a rounded lower surface wherein the angleincluded by the curve of the rounded surface is large enough to maintainthe rounded surface in contact with the tongue when the handle of thetongue cleaning device is pivoted upwardly with respect to the user'sface. In all of the embodiments except FIGS. B and Q, the included angleis at least 180 degrees. In FIGS. B and Q, the included angle is greaterthan 90 degrees and is shown to be 135 degrees (FIG. B) and 150 degrees(FIG. Q).

[0077] The rounded working edge of each configuration has an equalthickness or a smaller thickness than the maximum thickness of thescraping member. The working edge may be positioned along the crosssection centerline of the scraping member as depicted in FIGS. 23F, I,J, K, M, and N. The working edge may also be positioned toward theforward end of the scraping member as depicted in FIGS. 23A, B, C, D, E,G, H, L, O, P, Q, R, and S. In other embodiments, the working edge isposition adjacent the rear end of the scraping member as depicted inFIG. 23T (although any of the above configurations may be reversed). InFIGS. 23U, V, W, and X, the entire scraping member has a curved crosssection with the scraping member being concave when viewed from theforward end toward the rear end.

[0078] The lower portion of each scraping member shown in FIG. 23 may bedescribed as beaded or tear drop (having a thin neck as shown in FIGS.23A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, S, T, U, and X) or rounded(no neck portion as shown in FIGS. B, J, Q, R, V, and W). In the past,the lower portion of the scraping member was essentially square orsemi-circular.

[0079] The working edge of these figures may be formed by extruding thescraping member to have the shape, hot or cold rolling the member, orwelding a piece onto the member to form the shape. The scraping membermay be fabricated from stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, copper, oran alloy including one of these materials. Plastic may also be used.

[0080]FIGS. 24 and 25 show how one of the scraping members of FIG. 23having a debris retention recess 300 may be used with a tongue cleaningdevice 302. Recess 300 is positioned adjacent working edge 304 so thatdebris gathered up from the tongue is retained in recess 300. Recess 300is particularly useful for cleaning the tongue of persons in bed so thatthe debris does not fall off of the device before it can be properlydisposed.

[0081] Recess 300 is a depressed, concave area defined by the scrapingwall of device 302. Debris is gathered up into this concave recess whereit is retained until washed out by the user or vigorously shaken loose.FIG. 24 shows an embodiment where the head of the device has a centralopening. FIG. 25 shows an embodiment with a closed head.

[0082]FIG. 26 depicts an embodiment of the tongue cleaning devicewherein the working edge 350 is concave with respect to the tongue 352.Most human tongues 352 have an upper surface that has a pair ofside-by-side lobes. Despite this fact, known tongue scraping surfaceshave been flat or convex with respect to the tongue. The concave workingedge 350 allows the cleaning device to engage a wider area of tongue 352than flat or convex working edges because the concave working surfacebetter matches the shape of the lobes as depicted in the drawings.

[0083] Working edge 350 has a width that extends between opposed edgesof the head. The height of the scraping wall is taller at the edges thanin the middle portion while the upper surface is substantially coplanar.In the preferred embodiment, the concave surface is a smooth curve. Thescraping wall may have any of the shapes depicted in FIG. 23.

[0084] FIGS. 28-30A depict different steps in a method of manufacturinga scraping wall for a tongue cleaning device so that the working edge ofthe wall is not too sharp while being sharp enough to clean the surfaceof the tongue. The rough scraping wall 400 depicted in FIG. 28 has anupper section 402 of a first thickness 403 and a lower section 404 of asecond thickness 405. Second thickness 405 has a dimension of between0.010 to 0.032 inches with preferred dimensions being between 0.012 and0.020 inches. A working edge having dimensions in this range have beenfound to be good at cleaning the tongue while not cutting the tongue.

[0085] In FIG. 29, the arrows indicated by the numeral 410 are used toindicate polishing action that is taken to smooth the sharp edges ofscraping wall 400 to form a polished wall 412. Wall 412 has the lowersection formed with the proper dimensions even though a portion of itslower edge is completely worn away. Various polishing methods may beused to round these corners.

[0086] In FIG. 31, a scraping head 450 is shown that is manufacturedfrom a plurality of stacked wires 452. Head 450 may be in any of avariety of shapes known in the art. One exemplary shape is shown inFIG. 1. Wires 452 are connected together with binding strips 454 or maybe welded together or otherwise bonded together. Each wire 452 has aknown diameter of between 0.010 inches and 0.032 inches with a preferreddimension between 0.012 and 0.020 inches. Wires 452 are available fromsupplies at these known dimensions and are already rounded. Wires 452thus do not need polished to be smooth to prevent the risk of cutting.

[0087] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used forbrevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are tobe implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art becausesuch terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to bebroadly construed.

[0088] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is anexample and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

1. A tongue cleaning device that is used for removing debris from atongue; the device comprising: a body having a handle and a working edgecarried by the handle; and a debris-removal channel having at least oneinlet disposed adjacent the working edge of the body; the debris-removalchannel adapted to direct debris away from the working edge.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, further comprising suction means for creating asuction force in the debris-removal channel.
 3. The device of claim 2,wherein the suction means is carried by the body.
 4. The device of claim3, wherein the body defines a venturi opening in fluid communicationwith the debris-removal channel.
 5. The device of claim 4, furthercomprising a debris retention device in fluid communication with thedebris-removal channel.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the debrisretention device is connected to the handle.
 7. The device of claim 2,wherein the suction means is not carried by the body.
 8. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the body is fabricated from titanium.
 9. The device ofclaim 1, wherein at least a portion of the debris-removal channel isdefined by the handle.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the bodydefines a plurality of spaced inlets disposed along the working edge.11. The device of claim 1, wherein the working edge is concave withrespect to the tongue.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the bodyincludes means for allowing the handle to flex with respect to theworking edge.
 13. A tongue cleaning device that is used for removingdebris from a tongue; the device comprising: a body having a handle andhead; the head having a working edge adapted to be moved over thetongue; and the working edge being concave with respect to the tongue.14. The device of claim 13, wherein the head of the body defines adebris retention recess.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the debrisretention recess is adjacent the working edge.
 16. The device of claim15, wherein the debris retention recess is a curved depression definedby the head of the body.
 17. A tongue cleaning device that is used forremoving debris from a tongue; the device comprising: a body having ahandle and head; the head having a working edge adapted to be moved overthe tongue; and the head of the body defining a debris retention recessadapted to collect debris as it is removed from the tongue by theworking edge.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the debris retentionrecess is adjacent the working edge.
 19. The device of claim 18, whereinthe debris retention recess is a curved depression defined by the headof the body.